Feature
RPE Tracking
Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) is how hard a set felt on a 6-10 scale. Plates logs RPE per set, uses it to adjust your estimated 1RM, detect fatigue trends, and personalize when you should push harder or back off.
The RPE scale
Plates uses the standard 6-10 RPE scale with half-point increments (6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10). Each point corresponds to Reps in Reserve (RIR):
| RPE | Reps in Reserve | Meaning | Training zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 0 | Maximum effort, could not do another rep | True 1RM testing |
| 9.5 | 0-1 | Maybe could have done one more on a good day | Heavy singles/doubles |
| 9 | 1 | Definitely had one more rep | Strength peaking |
| 8.5 | 1-2 | Possibly two more reps | Intensification |
| 8 | 2 | Two solid reps left in the tank | Productive training |
| 7.5 | 2-3 | Could do two to three more | Moderate effort |
| 7 | 3 | Three reps left, controlled effort | Accumulation volume |
| 6.5 | 3-4 | Light to moderate, warmup territory | Recovery/warmup |
| 6 | 4+ | Very light, could keep going easily | Deload/warmup |
How Plates uses your RPE data
1RM accuracy
Adjusts estimated 1RM calculations using RIR. A set at RPE 8 gives a higher (more accurate) estimate than treating it as a max-effort set.
Fatigue detection
Rising RPE at the same weight signals cumulative fatigue. The engine detects this trend and warns you before performance crashes.
Deload timing
Rising RPE and consecutive hard weeks trigger deload and fatigue alerts for free. With Pro, your personal "grind threshold" is learned from your RPE patterns, so the alerts fire at your threshold rather than a generic number.
Program prescriptions
Mesocycle programs can prescribe RPE targets (e.g., "3x5 at RPE 7"). The app calculates appropriate weight based on your recent e1RM.
Quick to log, optional by design
RPE logging is a single tap after completing a set. Toggle it on or off in settings. When enabled:
- Half-point RPE selector appears below each set
- Previous session's RPE shown for reference
- Estimated 1RM updates in real time as you log
- Session averages visible in workout summary
If you prefer not to track RPE, that's fine. All features work without it. The adaptive engine uses rep and weight patterns when RPE data isn't available.
Autoregulation-ready (Pro)
RPE tracking enables autoregulated training: adjusting your session based on how you feel rather than a fixed plan. The autoregulation features below are part of Plates Pro, built on top of the free RPE logging described above:
- The Pro mesocycle generator prescribes RPE targets per phase (e.g., RPE 7 during accumulation, RPE 8.5 during intensification)
- The RPE-autoregulated progression scheme auto-calculates each set's weight from your recent e1RM and the prescribed RPE
- Session readiness rating further adjusts expectations on "off" days
- Your logged RPE versus the prescribed RPE feeds back into your learned adaptive profile
What is RPE vs. RIR?
RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) and RIR (Reps in Reserve) measure the same thing from different angles. RPE asks "how hard was that?" on a 6-10 scale. RIR asks "how many more could you have done?" They're inversely related: RPE 8 = 2 RIR, RPE 9 = 1 RIR. Plates uses the RPE scale for logging and converts to RIR internally for calculations.
Try Plates free
RPE tracking, RPE-adjusted 1RM, and the dashboard fatigue and deload alerts are all free. Personalized learned thresholds and RPE-autoregulated program prescriptions are part of Plates Pro: $2.99/month or $19.99/year, with a 14-day free trial.